MDC’S Miami Film Festival to feature Jean-Marc Barr and Mateo Gil as First Two Marquee Events
Miami, FL — Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Film Festival (MFF) announced celebrated film artists Jean-Marc Barr and Mateo Gil as the first two Marquee events to be featured in the internationally-renowned Festival’s upcoming 35th anniversary edition to be heldMarch 9 – 18. The Festival’s Marquee series features film screenings accompanied by on-stage conversations with major film personalities of the moment, discussing their career and sharing an exciting new work.
Spanish filmmaker Mateo Gil will present the World premiere of his latest film, The Laws of Thermodynamics (Las leyes de la termodinámica) , a unique romantic comedy co-produced by Spain’s Zeta Cinema and Atresmedia . The film stars Vito Sanz (Maria (and the Others)) as a Sciences graduate student who blames his disastrous love life, such as being dumped by his girlfriend (played by Berta Vázquez of Palm Trees in the Snow ), on the mysteriously comic laws of cosmic thermodynamics.
Prior to presenting his high-profile new film, Gil will participate in an extended conversation about his career, which includes such highlights as co-writing the Academy Award-winning film The Sea Inside , co-writing Open Your Eyes , later remade as Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise; and his numerous Goya Award wins from Spain’s Academy of Cinematographic Arts & Sciences. As a director, Gil’s films “Allanamiento de morada”, Nobody Knows Anybody, Blackthorn and Realivehave all been presented in the US by Miami Film Festival.
“The Laws of Thermodynamics is Mateo Gil’s most astoundingly original creation yet, in which he brilliantly dissects the romantic comedy genre at the same time he elevates it with explosive new levels of movie-star chemistry and expertly-timed wit,” said Festival director Jaie Laplante . “We could not be more honored to present the world premiere of a film that will be the talk of 2018 in Spain and beyond.”
French-American actor and filmmaker Jean-Marc Barr will attend the North American premiere of the new documentary Dolphin Man , about the life and legacy of the French free diving legendJacques Mayol , whom Barr played in Luc Besson ’s 1988 international blockbuster hit, The Big Blue . Barr is featured prominently in Dolphin Man, which is directed by Lefteris Charitosand includes prominent coverage of the beginning of Mayol’s career working with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium in the 1950s. The Marquee evening will feature an extended conversation with Barr, and be paired with a 4K digital retrospective screening of The Big Blue.
After the international success of The Big Blue, Barr continued to make an international mark in a long association with Danish provocateur Lars von Trier, as the star of such films as Europa, Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville and many others. As a director, screenwriter and producer he has made numerous films in collaboration with Pascal Arnold, including Loversand American Translation. His most recent film is Grain, winner of the 2017 Grand Prize at Tokyo Film Festival.
“After making Jacques Mayol’s incredible life known the world over in the 1980s, Jean-Marc Barr honors Mayol and Miami by personally presenting this wonderous new documentary about Mayol,” added Laplante. “Presenting the film to North America for the first time in the same community that Mayol began his journey is all the more special for Miami.”
In addition to The Laws of Thermodynamics , the Festival also announced two more high-profile new Spanish films which will screen for the first time to US audiences.
The Marquee Evening with Jean-Marc Barr featuring Dolphin Man and The Big Blue will take place on Friday, March 16, at 7 p.m., at the Regal Cinemas South Beach. Tickets are already on sale via 1-844-565-6433 (MIFF) or miamifilmfestival.com . In addition, individual vouchers guaranteeing a seat at the Marquee Evening with Mateo Gil featuring The Laws of Thermodynamics, as well as individual vouchers for The Warning and The Skin of the Wolf , are now on sale to the general public.
Additional Marquee events and Competition titles for the 35th Miami Film Festival will be unveiled when the complete line-up is unveiled in early February. The schedule of screening times will be announced on Feb. 9, with individual tickets going on sale to the general public beginning Feb. 16.
For membership opportunities or more information, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456). Miami Film Festival is the only major film festival event housed within a college or university.
